Friday, March 13, 2015

After Quidditch we went to Hogsmeade Village to the Three Broomsticks were we would be enjoying some Butter Beer and Bug-A-Boo could open her presents.

The Three Broomsticks at Universal Orlando

The Three Broomsticks at Universal Orlando

Butter Beer from Universal Orlando

Butter Beer kegs at Universal Orlando

The obvious location for the Three Broomsticks was the pub. Using the same method I used to make the brooms for Quidditch, I made three more broomsticks and attached them together with rubber bands. I printed out the Three Broomsticks logo that I found online and nailed the sign above the entrance to our pub.

The next big thing was to find an easy and yummy recipe for Butter Beer. This was a challenge. There are so many different versions out there and we experimented with a few different ones before we found the recipe that would work for the party.

I found the winning recipe at decigndazzle.com. It was quick and easy and it didn't require any time at the stove, which was great due to the way I wanted to serve it.

Ingredients for the Butter Beer:
2 liter cream soda* or 6 pack of IBC Cream Soda
2 tablespoons of Butter Extract
2 teaspoons Rum Extract
*drop the extracts into the 2 liter bottle, put on cap and slowly rotate until combined. If you use the 6 pack pour the soda into a drink dispenser and stir slowly.

Pour the butterbeer into a glass, drizzle with the cream topping and enjoy!

While doing all my research I came across the website chicaandjo.com and found an amazing way to serve the Butter Beer. In a Butter Beer barrel. Well, I wasn't able to serve it out of a real barrel so I used the instructions on the website to make one. It came out great! It looked so cool in the pub!

We decorated the top of the bar with all of the Harry Potter movies.

Tara scooped out the cream on top of the butter beer and everyone enjoyed!!

ABOUT ME

For as long as I can remember I have been a creative soul. I was always drawing or coloring as a child and as a teenager I started scrapbooking. Photos from school events, newspaper clipping, mementos, and other assorted stuff. I was a designer on my high school yearbook staff and an illustrator for the high school newspaper.

When I went to college, my plan was to be a journalist or broadcaster. I took an entry level graphic design course and my major was signed. Technically, I was an Art major with a concentration in Graphic Design and I minored in both Advertising and Broadcast and Cinematic Arts.

As fate would have it I ended up in a career in Broadcasting (which was my first love) however my love of art is always with me.

As an adult my one major creative outlet has been scrapbooking. I love it! It is a way for me to work creatively with my hands and preserve precious memories for my family. I have made so many friends through scrapbooking and have over 20 completed books. It is a never-ending process to scrap our lives, but I’m making headway and hope that I never catch up.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Crafty Chick:

That's me!

Prince Charming:

My dear husband, Tom, who I married in 2003 and am still madly in love with.